Protest Staged Demanding Reinstatement Of Sylhet DC Sarwar

A demonstration has been staged by youth representatives from all walks of life in Sylhet, demanding the cancellation of the withdrawal order for the widely discussed Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mohammad Sarwar Alam. The protest rally took place on Sunday, 21 June, starting at 6:00 pm at the Sylhet Court Point and in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

This development followed the official withdrawal of Mohammad Sarwar Alam from his positions as the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Sylhet. The administrative action was prompted by a controversy surrounding his management decisions regarding the Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine. On Sunday, 21 June, the Ministry of Public Administration issued an official notification removing him from his duties in Sylhet and attaching him as a Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration.

Demonstrators Demand Immediate Reinstatement

During the protest rally, speakers strongly argued that in the interest of Sylhet and out of respect for the demands of its residents, DC Sarwar Alam must be reinstated to his position. The demonstrators declared that the people of Sylhet would not accept any administrative decision that goes against public opinion. They gathered in significant numbers to voice their opposition to the ministry’s sudden relocation order, urging authorities to reconsider the decision immediately.

Insights from Civil Society and Public Records

Abdul Karim Kim, the coordinator of the Sylhet chapter of the aggrieved citizens’ movement (Sankhubdha Nagarik Andolan), shared insights regarding the transfer of the Deputy Commissioner. He stated that Mohammad Sarwar Alam had discharged his administrative duties with utmost dedication. Notably, during instances of illegal extraction at the Bholaganj Sadapathar (white stone) site, he played a critical role in taking strict measures against the looters and ensuring the restoration and preservation of the stones. Furthermore, Mohammad Sarwar Alam had already established a widespread public reputation from his previous tenure as an executive magistrate for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), where his anti-corruption drives and mobile courts received significant public attention.

However, Abdul Karim Kim also noted that certain recent measures taken by the DC concerning the management of the Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine had drawn mixed reactions. Specifically, the decisions to seal the donation boxes and the historic donation cauldrons (dek), alongside deploying police and Ansar personnel at the shrine premises, were perceived by many as controversial and inappropriate.

Background of Mohammad Sarwar Alam’s Tenure

Mohammad Sarwar Alam was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet on 18 August of the preceding year. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Private Secretary to Asif Nazrul, who was the Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment at the time. His appointment to Sylhet originally came during a period of intense public discussion and criticism surrounding the theft and looting of white stones from Sylhet’s extraction sites, where he was brought in to restore order.

According to various administrative and political sources, Sarwar Alam’s tenure was marked by multiple high-profile decisions and initiatives that routinely sparked debates both in favour of and against his administration. Ultimately, his latest enforcement measures regarding the shrine management generated a massive public reaction, which served as the immediate catalyst for the Ministry of Public Administration to issue his withdrawal and reassignment orders.